Fans of Virgin River may be surprised to discover a familiar face in Netflix’s next major drama addition. The beloved superhero origin series Smallville — often described as “heartwarming” and “impossible to recommend enough” — arrives on Netflix on January 13, bringing all 10 seasons of the iconic show to streaming.
Premiering in 2001, Smallville chronicles the formative years of Clark Kent before he becomes Superman, with Tom Welling leading the cast as the conflicted, quietly heroic teenager. While the series redefined superhero television in the early 2000s, it never relied on capes or suits, instead focusing on character, relationships, and emotional growth.
For Virgin River fans, the connection comes through Annette O’Toole, who played Clark’s compassionate adoptive mother Martha Kent years before becoming Hope McCrea. Her performance remains one of the show’s emotional anchors.
